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Year: 2018

Photo: Insane

Long-read interview : The team behind (in)sane, a platform for mental health

Written by Liv Clarke on . Posted in Features.

(In)sane is a multimedia arts platform set up by University of Manchester students and graduates, which discusses the topic of mental health in a revolutionary way. I spoke to some of the team members in charge of (in)sane; Co-founder and Creative Director Cara Looij, who is a Drama and English Literature graduate, Co-founder and Marketing and Social Media Director Julia Morgan, who studies Drama and English Literature, and Sebastian, the Resident Technician, who studies Music. Their first event took place in March, which involved 52 artists, and their next event will take place on the 14th October, at the N.I.A.M.O.S centre in Hulme.

The platform strives to take a different approach towards mental health. It provides a safe space for people to express themselves creatively; to tell their story when words are not enough. (In)sane is about being honest about mental health, it does not hide the ugly side or difficult aspects of it, nor does it accept that this is an easy subject to deal with. The team behind it have all experienced challenges with mental health themselves or know someone who has dealt with it. “We wanted to create a platform which is specifically about tackling the topic of mental health and personal narratives through creativity,” Cara tells me, “we wanted to reframe the dialogue around mental health as being less perspective and scientific and to be more personal and expressive.”

(In)sane is very much about discussing mental health in a nontraditional way. It encourages people to explore what they have been through without being judged or afraid that their story is not valid. Their events feature performances through various artforms; artists are invited to express themselves through anyway they desire, “with words, or a drawing, or with film, or with music because all of these things can express emotions, sometimes more effectively then vocabulary”, Cara explains. The event is about empowering people, so they can share their story. For Julia, this aspect is very important: “performing something and knowing that that part of my life is different now, being it able to discuss it with power…when you’ve gone through that process in your own life, its really special being able to reclaim your life back again.”

The event they have planned in October will be a very relaxed affair; lasting eight hours, people can come and go as they please, and can explore seven rooms within the building. There will be visual art, performances, projections, poetry and more; there will also be a chill out room where people can write down or draw their responses to what they have seen. A tea and coffee space will be set up (the event is alcohol free), so people can discuss their experiences in an environment without any pressure. All this for a £5 ticket which will raise money for 42nd Street, a mental health charity in Greater Manchester. Merchandise will be available to buy as well and Cara will be making her own hand printed T Shirts to sell the event.

For Cara, it was important to raise money for an organisation that helps young people with their mental health and doing so in a productive manner, “There are all these charities raising awareness [about mental health], but no one is actually doing anything about it…that is why we want to support 42nd Street, as they organise therapy for young people. They have waiting lists, but they are not as long as the NHS.” However, as well as raising money, (in)sane itself does provide a healing opportunity for people who have battled with mental health, as Cara points out: “We aren’t trained therapists…but we make an event where people can tell their stories, it’s good for people to go and to see what they can get out of that.”

The team want to change how mental health is dealt with, particularly the idea of one-size-fits-all when it comes to treatment. “People hear the statistics, like 1 in 4 people get dressed, and then they tell that depressed person to go to the gym…there aren’t easy solutions to difficult problems,” Julia says. For Cara, every situation is different: “The approach needs to be personal, and complex, and thought through…everyone is formed in different ways, everyone has difference experiences. We’re trying to get away from this idea of grading pain.”

(In)sane is also about changing the perception of the scale of mental health issues, just because one aspect may seem less important, does not mean that it should not be taken seriously. The performances can help people identify with situations and realise that they are also going through something similar. “My friend felt her anxiety was not serious enough comparison with other things, and I said no, its still a thing we need to know about and a thing we need to share. There is power in sharing,” States Julia.

Photo: Insane
Photo: Insane

Cara reveals that one of the main goals of (in)sane is to discuss mental health in a respectable way. “We’re trying to combat the skewed perspective in the media and the arts at the moment. For example, things like [the TV show] 13 Reasons Why, which has attached a revenge narrative to suicide and that’s very problematic.” A key feature on the event page is a trigger warning about the things that will be discussed. They are often overlooked by other media platforms, but trigger warnings can really help those who have been through something traumatic. Julie describes the reasons why this is so vital in these discussions, “Respecting someone’s knowledge about their own mental health is important and knowing that people have mental health triggers as well. Sometimes plays we put on in Drama Society need trigger warnings.” However, there’s a difference between warning someone when the topic will be difficult and brushing it aside, as Cara explains, “We don’t want to censor the event. We don’t want to be PG about it, we want people to be ok with sharing their experiences.”

Not only does (in)sane encourage people to open up about their battles with mental health, it also permits artists to perform or present their work without judgement. The relationship between art and mental health is certainly important for the team, as they are all or were arts students, and they all find that creating helps with their mental health. “Everyone should be creating,” Julia says, “its great for the body and for the brain, what you gain from doing lots of art is that it changes the way you see things. It’s about looking and experiencing.” It does not matter to the team what the ability of the artist it, it is inclusivity that is important, as Sebastian tells me, “We’re not exclusive, you don’t have to be a ‘good’ artist to perform, the whole point is that it is open.”

Yet the artwork provides another purpose: it enables a two-way communication between the person who has been through something, and the audience. Often it is easier for somebody to understand something that is visual or aural, rather than just words alone. Sebastian describes how it encourages a deeper understanding of the issues “a lot of it [the artwork] is abstract, it helps with the empathy as they don’t have to identify with the specific event, but rather the feeling involved.” Indeed, mental health itself is an abstract being; if something is wrong it does not manifest itself in the same way as physical health. The artwork provides a route of communication, as Julia explains “You need an ‘in’ in order to fully understand someone…finding little keys so you can empathise with someone fully.”

Abstract artwork is a key feature of the platform’s branding, a lot of the artwork is designed by Julia, as Sebastian tells me, “That [good or bad art] is something we’ve considered with branding, we’ve tried to not go for the stereotypical corporate logos…we’ve not gone for that traditional stuff and that’s the whole point.” The illustrations Julia has created for (in)sane convey some of the feelings associated with mental health, they have a looseness and energy to them; mental health is something that is constantly changing and can be influenced by anything, regardless of size. (In)sane is not about perfection and precision, it’s a about real life situations.

The team are certainly looking forward to their upcoming event in October, but they have got more ideas for the future as well, combining their personal projects together to create a wider movement. “We’d like to continue with events and do more workshops,” Julia tells me. She would personally like to deal with the topic of addiction and how that is portrayed in the media. Meanwhile, Cara wants to focus more on women’s health, using drama and art to help people in that area. For her, encouraging mental health discussions across all age ranges is very important, “We’d like to reach out to sixth forms and schools…[and focus on] intergenerational stuff.” As Sebastian points out, there is a lack of support for younger age groups, “Young people are very underrepresented [in regard to mental health].”

(In)sane is just starting out, but it is clear that they have big ideas. I doubt that their message would change even if their platform grew, as Julia sums up perfectly “[Even] if we had doors, they would never be closed.”

(In)sane’s future event is on the 14th October between 12-10pm, at the N.I.A.M.O.S. (Former Nia Centre) in Hulme, tickets can be bought at Skiddle. The event is to raise money for 42nd Street, one of Greater Manchester’s mental health charities. You can donate to (in)sane via their donation page.

Love for the Streets: Hidden Behind the Headlines

Written by Chloe Hatton on . Posted in Societies.

Some might think that throwing a twelve-hour festival in one of Manchester’s most popular nightclubs might be a bit too ambitious for a group of recent graduates and students looking to raise money for charity. The prospect of then holding this less than a day before the start of the university term might also have raised doubts. Love for the Streets, however, would disagree.

What was most impressive about Hidden: Behind the Headlines was the sheer scale of the production. It wasn’t just your typical club night with a few DJs and a couple of people helping out behind the bar. No, Love for the Streets had managed to secure a grand total of thirty one acts to play across the three rooms of Hidden. Not only that, but in true festival style there was a whole host of alternative entertainment for everyone to enjoy.

    Photo: Chloe Hatton

Avid readers of The Mancunion might remember our review of Funraising’s Brazilian Wax club night. They made an appearance once again, providing everybody with as many feathers, pipe cleaners, recycled card, and googly eyes as they could possibly want, resulting in some very funky headgear and a beautifully decorated display answering the question ‘what does Utopia mean to you?’. Love Specs, who raise money for charity by selling some very cute heart shaped glasses, were also on hand to glitter everybody up. Those that started feeling peckish during the twelve hours were also catered for, quite literally, by a range of curries and wraps. Forgot your waviest of garms? No worries, Fallow Garms spent the first half of the evening upstairs, leaving you to peruse their collection.

Photo: Chloe Hatton

Of course, you can’t have a festival without music, and you could tell that Love for the Streets had put a lot of work into their line up. Consisting of a very funky mix of genres, from hip-hop to house to jungle, the mixture of live music and DJ sets certainly kept things interesting. Highlights included Phoebe Valentine of B.L.O.O.M, Manchester’s all-female DJ collective, Top Cat, and Kornel Kovacs. Despite the prospect of early morning university for some, there were some very questionable dance moves all the way up until 4am.

Born just over a year ago, Love for the Streets has enjoyed phenomenal success, engaging students in charity work and connecting them with Manchester’s homeless population, all through a variety of events, including conscious clubbing, art exhibitions at the Whitworth, and talks such as ‘Let’s Talk Homelessness: Looking at LGBTQ+ and Women’s Issues’. They’ve also been featured in Eventbrite’s Generation DIY, a series of short films looking at some of the UK’s most influential young promoters – all of whom are under the age of twenty five.

Their ultimate aim is to inspire more students to start volunteering using a commitment curve process. This starts with engaging with an event such as Hidden: Behind the Headlines, joining the online community that engage with homeless charities, and finally volunteering. According to research done by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS), 24% of young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty four currently formally (as part of an organisation) volunteer at least once a month, and now Love for the Streets are making it even easier for students to get involved. If you’re interested in getting to know more about the work they do, you can get involved through the Student’s Union or by messaging them on Facebook.

Introducing: Manchester Outreach Medics

Written by Ellie Martin on . Posted in Societies.

This week’s spotlight is taking a look at a society that are making a real difference in the community. Manchester Outreach Medics is a society based on voluntary work, made of of medical students from Manchester Medical School. The aim of the society is to “support young people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds in the aspirations for careers in medicine” in the surrounding Manchester area. They do this by organising and running workshops throughout the academic year which provide support to those looking to pursue a career in medicine, empowering students with information and insight about everything from the application process, to life as a medical student, all the way current ethical debates and explanations of issues faced by working doctors today.

This work could not be more important in today’s educational climate, where applications to medical schools are becoming more and more competitive, and places for those from low socioeconomic backgrounds becoming increasingly elusive.

A study by academics at Dundee and Central Lancashire university showed that of 33,000 applications, a hugely disproportionate amount of places were awarded to the wealthiest backgrounds, particularly in Scotland and Wales. These results support the fact that 80% of medical students come from professional households, with more than a quarter from private education.

According to an article by The Guardian, 50% of secondary schools across the UK have never had a pupil apply to medical school, a figure which Katie Petty-Saphon, chief executive of the Medical Schools council, called “completely appalling”. The researchers at UCLAN and Dundee also found that “while 12% of applicants across the UK came from the poorest 20% of neighbourhoods, only 7.6% of places at medical school went to people from those areas. By contrast, 42% of places were awarded to students from the richest 20%, even though only 36% of applicants came from those areas.”

This issue is not only one of access, but also affects the quality of medical care that lower socioeconomic backgrounds receive. Once medical students have graduated, many decide to return to their home town or stay in the area they studied in. With the relatively small amount of students coming from low income areas, the amount of medical professionals working in those areas tends the be lower than areas that produce more medical students. One fourth year medical student at Manchester said that, while many of the best hospitals are in London, the only people who can afford to train there are those whose parents already live there, or those with connections in London. This further closes off opportunities for those who do not come from London originally, or who cannot afford to live there.

This is why the work of Manchester Outreach Medics (MOMs) is so important. The support they provide for young aspiring medics is invaluable in allowing those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to break into the careers that the cycle of wealth would have previously held from them, by increasing their confidence and enabling them to achieve their full potential. This is beneficial for all, as the more young people who enter the profession from all backgrounds, the wider the talent pool becomes, making better healthcare accessible to all.

MOMs have designed a really excellent program to enable young aspiring students. The workshops they hold throughout the year are designed to appeal to all ages involved, from years ten to thirteen, inspiring those at a younger age to pursue a career in medicine, and informing those going through the application process on everything they need to get them in the front door. A spokesperson from the society said, “it’s a chance to help students like ourselves and give the information that we wished we had when we applied for medicine.” They also run an annual conference which is designed for year twelve pupils looking to apply for medicine, giving them an insight into what life is like for a medical student and how the course is taught; the volunteers run practice problem based learning sessions which can be a stark change from secondary teaching styles. It also has a seminar for teachers to attend, giving them the tools to best support students who wish to apply for medicine. Having a teacher or mentor at school who supports you can be invaluable for a young aspiring medical student, but as mentioned previously, half of the schools in the country have never had a pupil apply for medical school, so the process can be just as stressful and confusing for teachers as for students.

MOMs have been the recipient of Volunteer and Fundraising society of the year 2018, and in the same year their project leader, Charlotte Auty, won both volunteer and project leader of the year. Whilst having only been founded in 2015, this society has already proved its value and its numbers are on the rise.

Medical students interested in volunteering with them can be added to their mailing list at [email protected], and can visit their website manchesteroutreachmedics.com. The mailing list keeps you up to date with every event they run and how to volunteer. This is a truly worthwhile society to get involved with and one that can make a real difference in our student community.

We notice when Tories vote to protect fascists

Written by matthewgold on . Posted in Opinion.

We are all too frequently told that we need more ‘European allies’ at this critical juncture in British politics. Aside from alienating ourselves from the neighbouring European Union through voting for and carrying out Brexit, one way to try to regain the trust of our soon-to-be free trading buddies is apparently to vote against the large majority of them over what constitutes a ‘European Value’.

I refer to the vote that passed just last week in which the EU voted by over two thirds to take steps towards sanctioning the residing Hungarian regime in an unprecedented move for the legislative body. The vote passed despite Conservative MEPs defending the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán who is accused of antisemitism. They were incidentally the only conservative-leaning party currently in office to vote against the motion in the EU.

If you were to believe the words of Michael Gove – apparently a reliable mouthpiece for the government (what a time we live in), then this was not about endorsing a man who referred to migrants as “poison” or that has actually made it illegal for lawyers to defend asylum seekers, but rather this was a vote about the EU itself not interfering in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation.

In reality, however, refusing to vote against the Hungarian regime reveals the true colours of our governing Conservative party a little bit more. It exposes them for what they are, who they are looking to forge alliances with and what values they deem acceptable in the 21st Century. It says to me, as a British Jew, that they are not always going to stand up to those that wage, amongst other things, antisemitic rhetoric and ideology within their own country. This charge has been levied relentlessly against Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party and, whatever you may think of that, he hasn’t actually had a chance to vote as a government on policy yet. The Tories have and they definitively decided to attempt to protect those that would spread hate towards minorities in their own countries.

You will therefore forgive me if I don’t choose to believe the man that thinks that “people have had enough of experts” when I decide that actually some things in this world are plain and simple the wrong thing to do. One of those things is voting to protect fascists.

The Conservative Party that I know used to talk about being the party of ‘law and order’ or supporting the rule of law. They actually had a chance here to take a stand and show us all that they wouldn’t accept a country that is actively attacking the very principle of having an independent judiciary but alas, clearly that isn’t a universal value for the party either.

The Conservative MEPs that voted against the motion against Hungary have supposedly now been written letters thanking them for their actions by Orbán. Perhaps Theresa May sees it differently, but I am deeply concerned that this is the kind of regime that we are choosing to grow closer to at a time of deepened political division. I certainly hope we do not go further down this path.

Photo: sasatro @Flickr

A new Queer-a? The loss of place for Manchester Pride

Written by sambrougham on . Posted in Opinion.

The Gay Village has been home to Manchester Pride for over 25 years, but next year’s festival will have to find a new home due to a wave of property developments in the area.

A spokesperson for Manchester Pride told The Mancunion: “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to plan and deliver The Big Weekend in a space that is decreasing in size. Next year there will be more developments taking shape that will further reduce the space available for us to deliver a safe event to the current scale”.

While the issue of safety and scale are important, the consideration of the event as a safe space is integral to the overall project. This has given rise to a debate as to whether attendees feel as if they are able to express themselves freely in the new location, without persecution or discrimination.

As a gay man, the Village has allowed me to experiment with sexuality and became a safe place for me to freely express myself in whatever capacity necessary, and Pride has allowed the celebration of sexuality with similar people in close proximity to comfortable surroundings.

Some may wonder why this is a big deal, and say it’s just a simple relocation. But Canal Street and the surrounding Village have a powerful legacy for individuals and collective groups of marginalised people who have protested for gay, lesbian and trans rights for decades. It is a space of freedom, struggle, expression and history.

There’s concern the Village will be stripped of identity, as inevitable noise complaints from these new surrounding neighbourhoods curb late alcohol licenses and the popularity of the area.

This begs the question ‘who is Manchester serving?’ Is it the big corporations investing in luxury housing, or the people who make the city? Manchester boasts a multicultural society and is synonymous with pride and diversity. But prioritising development in this way could rip the heart out of the city.

The Guardian evidences that these developments have already marginalised poorer-income families. What is stopping them from doing the same to another ‘oppressed’ community?

The future for Canal Street and Manchester’s LGBTQ+ population is uncertain, but the community is resilient, as it always has been. It will find ways to survive and thrive in different spaces – if it ever comes to that.

Photo: Ibrahim.ID @Wikimedia Commons

Venting on social media lowers self-esteem, study finds

Written by Aya-Zoe Atallah on . Posted in News, Science & Tech.

A study from the University of Manchester suggests that venting on social media can lead to a decline in mental health.

Dr. Natalie Berry, a researcher at The University of Manchester, observed and recorded the negative impact of social media on a group of 44 participants. These individuals took part in activities on social media for a period of six days, receiving a total of six alerts per day. This study is the first to monitor specific activities on media platforms, including liking posts and retweeting.

The study, published in August, concluded that publicly expressing anger and other feelings on these platforms was linked to an overall lower self-esteem, and an increase in paranoia. In addition, following the lives of people the subjects were not friends with, for example, celebrities, showed a general decrease in mood as well as self-esteem. The results of the study show that these activities negatively influence all individuals, regardless of their initial mental state. Dr. Berry states, “There seems to be no difference on how Social Media impacts on people with psychosis compared to people without psychosis”.

A group of students at The University of Manchester, frequent users of social media, were asked to comment on the recent findings. One of the students claimed, “What is unhealthy about (social media) is the constant use of it. It has become so easy to constantly check your phone, look through texts and notifications all day. When you spend so much time doing something, you become dependent on it. I think that’s why it has such a huge effect on people’s mood”.

Another student at the university confirmed this sentiment by saying, “The idea that hundreds of ‘non-friends’ can judge you has people craving their validation which, I feel, causes paranoia”. All the students agreed that social media has influenced them to take part in unhealthy behaviour that they would not have done otherwise, such as constantly checking someone’s profile. One of the students claimed that “social media in the form of pictures can be an online playground of competition which can make someone feel unworthy or insecure”.

Dr. Berry suggests a way that the impact of social media can be monitored, placing the responsibility in the hands of the professionals. She states, “Mental health professionals should be routinely asking about how their clients use social media in a clinical context”.

The full report can be found on The University of Manchester website in the Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica Journal.

Photo: Nottingham Trent University @ Flickr

University Marketing Strategies

Written by Cachella Smith on . Posted in News, Opinion.

With students across the country descending on their chosen universities recently, some of them could find themselves to have been victims of false advertising. The Which? Consumer group has called out certain universities for false statements made during the student application process. According to the company, there have been several claims of so-called ‘high status’ along with published statistics which simply aren’t true.

Examples of statements which have been placed in the limelight include Newcastle University’s assertion that they were in the top 1% of Universities worldwide, along with Aston University’s declaration that they were ‘ranked within the top 35 universities in all university ranking tables’. These two statements have both been removed from the respective University websites, while Heriot-Watt University maintains that they have the right to claim they are a “world-leading university for pioneering research informed by the needs of industry and research”.

The interesting part of this story, I find, is the link between higher education establishments and marketing campaigns. Students and prospective students are both painfully aware of the economic implications of a university education. Yet hearing university prospectuses and websites being referred to as ‘adverts’ really drives this point home. Unfortunately, the current structure of higher education is something we have very little control over. If you want a degree, it seems you do simply have to cough up. Does giving heed to these advertising claims however suggest that we are (quite literally) buying into the system, and therefore supporting this economic process?

Obviously we would all like to attend the best university we can, but is it beneficial to base the next three or four years of your life on a percentage comparison that, as we have seen here, may not even be true? Choosing universities is always going to be a bit confusing, but to what extent is our decision affected by lists, rankings and league tables? Or perhaps the question we should be considering is how much does this influence suggest we are contributing to the elitist structure of British higher education?

Abiding by league tables, choosing Oxbridge above all, and obsessing over statistics is exactly what powers this advertising system that now controls our education. The power of league tables is only determined by the influence we give them. Yet, at the end of the day, is it realistic to quantify a university with a single number? How could this even touch at representing the range of societies on offer, the mental health support, or the library facilities? Reducing an entire higher education establishment to a figure, and one that differs according to the varying league tables, will serve to re-focus our education system upon numbers, statistics and grades. Things which will only contribute to the competitive environment of education. Yet universities will continually promote themselves using their position in league tables, and apparently, we will continue to listen.

So, not only is it common sense to consider several different factors when choosing a university, but further blindly choosing a university based on statistics could be contributing to the elitist and financial movement that the higher education system now implicates. League tables are an important and useful resource but numbers do not and never will accurately describe an entire establishment. The only power in league tables is the power that we attribute to them, and according to Which?, the numbers are not always true anyway.

Beverly Goodwin @Wikimedia Commons

UoM lecturers speak at the Labour conference

Written by George Walker on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester initiative ‘Policy@Manchester’ took a team of lecturers to deliver a trio of talks at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool. The University created this group in order to showcase their highest standard of research and expertise on offer at UoM.

The group came together in the hope that they could lend support and give any knowledge that may be needed for the best policy decision-making for the UK. At the Labour conference, the group covered issues and subjects at their talks such as ‘Immigration and the future of British Politics’ at the Tate Liverpool, as well as ‘Is further devolution the key to successful cities post-Brexit?’, and ‘On the dole – will robots put us out of work?’ at the Hilton Liverpool.

The team at the conference then held a ‘data lounge’ session after the three talks. At this session, there was a chance to find out more about the university’s research and to have a general break and chat with the University of Manchester members attending. The range of cutting-edge research occurring at the University included that into Lynch syndrome. This is a syndrome that can cause bowel cancer and the more previously unresearched womb cancer. The research undergone by the University is hoping to improve treatment, increase screenings early on, and therefore save peoples’ lives.

At the conference, the Policy@Manchester team also included esteemed speakers from the CBI, Centre for Cities, Social Market Foundation, TUC, and others. There will also be members from Policy@Manchester attending the Conservative Party conference on the 2nd of October to give the same talks that were given in Liverpool.

Invisible Manchester: Homeless people to lead tours around the city

Written by hannahvallance on . Posted in News.

The Invisible Manchester initiative, spearheaded by Alice Sparks, an ex-History student from The University of Manchester, offers tourists the chance to experience the city’s streets in a new light, from the perspective of those who call it home.

Following the success of their sister organisation, Invisible Edinburgh, Invisible Manchester provides free guidance and training to homeless people across the city. The training focuses on confidence building, public speaking, and customer service. This program partners with professional tour guides to provide a ‘unique’ experience for both those taking the tour, and those providing it. The cost of tours will be £10.

“Frustrated” that students weren’t doing enough to give back to their temporary home of Manchester, Alice told The Mancunion: “I wanted to show that us students really do care. After going on an Invisible Edinburgh tour around this time last year, I decided to message Zakia, the founder of the Invisible tour group to start an initiative here.

“Little did I know, one year later — after running around like a headless chicken for most of my final year of university — I would be directing the Manchester branch alongside the help of the Manchester student community.”

Invisible Cities, the brainchild of Zakia Moulaoui, a French native who has lived in Scotland for ten years, was set up in 2016 to show people that “homelessness is not always what people think.” The enterprise, calling themselves a “social business with a social conscience”, aims to show that “everyone has great potential, a fact reflected in our tour guides.”

In Manchester, homelessness has been on the rise with findings from Homeless Link revealing that nearly 100 people were classed as rough-sleepers in the city centre in 2017 alone. This marks a sevenfold increase on the number since 2010, contributing to 4,751 people rough-sleeping across the whole of the UK in 2017.

This is despite plans to build 50,000 new and mostly private homes in central Manchester by 2040, contributing to a regeneration project which Alliance Manchester Business School have claimed has failed to meet the demands of those with families and those on lower incomes.

Currently, 80,000 people are on Greater Manchester’s social housing waiting list. Greater Manchester is also considered an eviction and repossession hotspot; the charity, Greater Together Manchester, has found that approximately 1 in 62 households are at risk of repossession or eviction.

“It’s important to break down the stigma of what homelessness is,” Alice continued.

“It’s never going to be an easy or straightforward process and there are certain barriers you have to cross, especially since rough-sleeping can often be chaotic and can take a serious hit at your confidence. That’s why we make sure Invisible Cities concentrates on what works in helping the tour guides since they might not always be at the right stage of life.

“However, we’re slowly planning to take Invisible Cities nation-wide, with exciting plans to try to enrol the programme in both Liverpool and Glasgow and to begin tours in Manchester in December.”

Alice will be leaving Invisible Manchester in January, and is looking for someone to continue to her work, or to add to the progress of the social enterprise. If you are interested or know anyone that may be, please email [email protected].

Study suggests 31% of North West students worry about money every day

Written by Sam Honey on . Posted in News.

New research by price-comparison website Money Supermarket has revealed that almost a third of students in the North West have money worries on a daily basis.

The study into finances as part of university life was undertaken this July and include 700 students from across the UK.

While partying and irresponsible spending are stereotypes of university financing, the investigation attempted to determine and categorise the mean monthly spending of a student in the UK, and then compare this figure with student loan totals.

The breakdown found, on average, the monthly costs to be about £894.33. Included in calculating the costs were a range of expenses, from Accommodation to Home Entertainment.

Unsurprisingly, rent was found to account for over half of student’s monthly expenditure.

The average student loan was revealed as £2,094/term, and the calculation of termly expenses revealed a figure of £2,235.83, some £141.83 over the loan total.

As a result, 85% of students are relying on additional sources of Income to support them throughout their degree, with sources including parents.

The difficulty of balancing a student loan was summarised by a second-year student who wished to remain nameless, ”You have to learn how to manage money very quickly and some may struggle more than others.”

In addition, the survey confirmed that 48% of students use their bank account’s overdraft facilities on a regular basis.

The average value of such usage was identified at £548.

Money Supermarket spokesperson Sally Francis-Miles felt that student loans were not sufficiently designed to meet a student’s financial needs, “It’s not surprising that student loans don’t cover the cost of living for students. The Government takes into account that parents will support their child in addition.

“Obviously, that’s not always the case so it then falls on the student to get a part-time job or to save before going to make up the shortfall.”

The student loan system has also been criticised for being somewhat of a postcode lottery, with the amount a student is entitled to based off the household income at their home address.

Students are also being forced into taking part-time jobs alongside their courses, although interestingly, the results showed that a higher proportion of female students (45%) were in part-time work than their male counterparts (36%).

Despite this gloomy projection of living costs, the survey also produced a monthly total that excluded non-essential spending – with nights out, new clothes, gym memberships, and trips back home among those that did not class as essential costs.

This reviewed total found students able to save up to £409 per term, and over £1,200 each year.

Francis-Miles was however, critical of the suggestion that students should be expected to completely cut out all spending on non-essentials, “While they can cut back on unnecessary costs – takeaways and cinema trips, for example, expecting students not to spend any money on socialising or visiting family and friends is unreasonable.”

The survey also offered spending tips to students, including picking overdrafts with 0% interest, seeking offers from student bank accounts to save money, such as a free railcard, and looking to their university for financial advice. Figures from the research showed that 81% of students did not seek help when experiencing money problems.

Read more about the research here: https://www.moneysupermarket.com/current-accounts/student-spending/

Photo: Nick Youngson @ The Blue Diamond Gallery

Shout out to my ex: navigating life post break-up

Written by Jessica Blair on . Posted in Lifestyle.

A lot of the advice aimed at new students encourages them to swiftly sever any romantic ties to home. To those freshers currently still in the throes of a sixth-form passion, this advice may seem cold, cynical and totally inapplicable. To those who have followed this advice and are currently going through the painful stages of a break-up, you have come to the right place.

University is an environment full of people constantly reinventing themselves. It is one of the rare times in your life when an entire overhaul of your personality is somewhat expected. And for good reason; it’s practically a fact that you won’t be the same person when you leave. This lends itself to the feelings of reinvention and self-definition that are inevitable following the end of a relationship. Here I speak as a student in the midst of such a redefinition. As such, I have found a great deal of comfort in being surrounded by people who have no idea what they’re doing, or who they’ll be by next week.

For many, the comfort of arriving at university with a safety-blanket just a phone call away is a tempting prospect. In reality, going to university is an experience that, if anything, should change you. If you find yourself viewing change as negative because of the distance it may bring between you and your partner, then you are seeing yourself as a half as opposed to a whole. The common narrative presented to us is that compromise is essential to successful relationships. Yet, to see being in a relationship as the ultimate success is to devalue your individuality. Personal growth at university is as inevitable as it is important, and stunting that can be damaging.

I spoke to a friend who ended a long-term relationship shortly after her first year of studies. She explained it was simply because she and her partner had become different people. Growth away from each other can mean growth towards a better self. There is no right way to do university; some home relationships last while others do not. And there is no shame in either situation. But, if you feel yourself changing beyond the person you are with, do not feel guilty for wanting to pursue that change.

Piling the end of a relationship onto the already intimidating list of newness may sound unmanageable. However, I have found that being in an environment far from home has actually helped in some ways. At a distance from the prying eyes of parents and otherwise inescapable confrontations with your past, your individuality is given space to blossom. To be at university during the transitional post break-up period forces you to remember that you are constantly moving forward. The breadth of distractions and opportunities means that, when faced with the task of rebuilding yourself, there is no end to the tools at your disposal.

Ultimately every person and every relationship is different. You should never feel pressured to end or begin one on the basis of someone else’s advice. If you do happen to find yourself in the midst of a bleak break-up, embrace the benefits of being in an environment that encourages self-invention. To lose the stability of a relationship during a time as turbulent as university is daunting, but it can also be a positive opportunity.

Photo: stevepb@Pixabay

SU introduce drug purity testing kits

Written by charlottebayliss on . Posted in News.

The University of Manchester Students’ Union have introduced drug testing kits that are available to students. The union has done this to try and encourage the safe use of substances.

The move follows recent data that suggests 21% of students in the UK take illegal drugs.

The tests are provided by an independent company that operates in several universities within Manchester, including the University of Manchester. The kits are available from the SU Advice Service.

Students can obtain the drug testing kits by donating £2.50, as opposed to the online retail price of between £3.50-10.

The kits work by placing a sample of the drug into a liquid substance which changes colour depending on purity.

An executive officer from the Student’s Union told the Manchester Evening News: “we advocate a more adult conversation around drugs policy. We know some young people choose to engage in drug taking – to ignore that fact won’t improve the problems that do exist around the issue. We believe it’s part of our responsibility to look after our student members to make these tests available to students across Manchester and we will continue to campaign to policy makers to make changes to drugs policy that reflect a more realistic and proactive attitude.”

However the SU have stated their opposition to the use of drugs and the potential punishment that comes with it.

Despite the pilot scheme being introduced in 2016, only a few students have used it so far.

When questioned, one drug user said they didn’t know the Students’ Union provided kits, despite their possible usefulness.

They also said that they wouldn’t use the service due to the close nature of the Union to the University. They felt there was a greater risk of being caught with illegal substances due to the link between the institutions.

“I feel detached from the possible consequences of drugs as I have never had or witnessed anyone having a bad experience. However, I do feel that the University and the Union could do more to promote the risks of taking illegal drugs alongside providing drug purity testing kits.”

A student told The Mancunion that they thought providing kits was a good way to promote safe drug use. They also felt it would help with lowering the risks involved in taking illegal substances.

“It allows people to have confidence in what they are taking and the intensity of the drug, this will reduce the number of casualties caused by such substances”.

The company doesn’t ensure 100% reliability in terms of the accuracy of the kits. Moreover even if the drug doesn’t contain poisonous chemicals, the risk of allergic reactions to illegal substances can’t be predicted.

The Mancunion have contacted the Students’ Union for comment.

 

Photo: East European apartment block @ Martin Vorel

Student accommodation covered with Grenfell-type cladding

Written by Shivani Kaura on . Posted in News.

Figures released on Thursday by the Ministry of Housing, Communities, and Local Government revealed that 54 high-rise student accommodation buildings in the UK are still covered in Grenfell-style cladding, with only 8 being completely fixed since the incident.

The Grenfell Tower fire occurred just over 15 months ago, claiming 72 lives, and has led to calls for the government to regulate cladding on all building blocks, including halls of residence and privately owned student accommodation.

The National Union of Students have stated that the buildings should not be used until full repairs have been made. They also declared that information about all buildings affected should be published and made available to the public as a warning.

According to research by charity Electrical Safety First, the North West accounted for a fifth of all accidental electrical fires that occurred in student halls of residence between 2012 and 2017.

Student halls might be particularly vulnerable to fire hazards due to dangerous student behavior. 1 in 4 Manchester University students surveyed by Electrical Safety First admitted to falling asleep on one occasion or more with food cooking on the hob or in the oven, and 1 in 3 said they’d put something in the microwave they shouldn’t have, for example light bulbs.

Emma Drackford, Communications Director of Electrical Safety First commented: “Manchester has so much to offer, including a great night life, however as you return to study or start your exciting journey at one of the country’s best universities we’re urging you all to take care in the kitchen.

“With so many of you admitting to cooking whilst drunk as well as falling asleep with food on the hob we want you to think twice about cooking in the kitchen after a night out. There was never a better excuse to order your favourite take out after a night on the town with your friends. Try and think twice, don’t drink and fry this Freshers.”

The Guardian stated that their Freedom of Information request last week prompting the government to announce which buildings were dangerous to take residency in had been declined.

Speaking to The Guardian, officials claimed: “there was public interest in transparency with respect to the buildings’ safety but disclosing the information could endanger the mental and physical health of people living in the buildings and could compromise their safety.”

Earlier this year it was reported that Thorn Court in Salford, Greater Manchester, was at risk. Although only 3 floors have been stripped and replaced with cladding, reports show that it could take up to 2 years until the building is fixed.

Reports have also been released revealing that work will begin on a 35-storey building later this year in Manchester, using anodised aluminium, like Grenfell.

Eva Crossan Jory, the NUS vice-president for welfare has spoken out: “It’s absolutely appalling. It’s incredibly concerning to see private providers gambling with student lives.”

Following this, the higher education regulator’s chief executive has also said: “We would hope that the local fire authority and the Health and Safety Executive checks these blocks urgently to reassure students of their safety.”

A spokesman for the housing ministry has claimed: “Building owners are responsible for ensuring residents are properly made aware of fire safety procedures.”

Since the Grenfell disaster, only 15% of cladding has been fixed and replaced with 62% currently being repaired. Students in Nottingham have been informed of the situation where figures have shown to have had the biggest impact, although plans for repair have not been reported.

Photo © Gerald England (cc-by-sa/2.0)

Five arrested after students in Manchester kidnapped for cash

Written by Shivani Kaura on . Posted in News.

Five arrests have been made after four students were lured into a vehicle and were not released until they transferred or withdrew thousands of pounds of cash.

Greater Manchester Police released an official statement last week warning people that robbers in an Audi A6 have been forcing students to get into cars and transfer them money.

The suspects are all young men, between the ages of 18 and 29. They were taken into custody on Friday morning after police searched four houses in South Manchester where large quantities of ammunition was found and the final man, aged just 19, was arrested.

The first kidnapping out of the four occurred on Lloyd Street North, close to Denmark Road, the University of Manchester halls of residence. The youngest victim, said to be only 19 years old was forced into the car and made to transfer £3,000 over.

Detective Constable Natalie Macdonald of GMP’s City of Manchester said: “Innocent members of the public, some of them students new to Manchester, have been victims of tricksters who then kidnapped them and forced them to hand over their money.

“Last night, thanks to some excellent work by the TVIU (Tactical Vehicle Intercept Unit), four people were arrested, during what we believe was another robbery.”

She concluded: “When a person is a victim of such robbery, they can be left feeling scared to go out and can lose trust in everyone.

“This week we have many new students coming to live in Manchester, and it is disappointing that some of their first memories of our city is that they were victims of crime.

“I would like to reassure everyone that we are doing all that we can to prevent criminals from taking advantage, we have strong links with the universities and the councils and we have officers on dedicated patrols as part of the Student Safe campaign.”

The University of Manchester website advises students ‘on being streetwise. Simple measures, such as avoiding the obvious use of smartphones and MP3 players, and avoiding walking home alone at night, can greatly reduce vulnerability to crime.’

All five of the arrested are now being held in custody for questioning.

Interview: Crystal Moselle

Written by Tobias Soar on . Posted in Film.

Shortly after the premiere of Skate Kitchen, director Crystal Moselle and I sat down at a table outside HOME’s cinema space for a quick chat. Although the post-screening Q&A sessions helped contextualise the film – it was originally a documentary that evolved into a story based on real experiences the Skate Kitchen girls had – some more technical questions were on my mind.

The up-close-and-personal style of the film was made possible by shooting on an Arri Alexa with fixed Panavision lenses. Keeping angles low portrayed New York City as it is: rich, vibrant, and filled with unique stories and personalities. Although NYC can be a challenge for some filmmakers, Crystal is in her element there, “I’ve been filming in New York for over 15 years so, for me, it’s not really challenging. I’m very used to cruising in and out of cars.” She says “the challenge was when you had a permit to film on a certain street and then you wanted to film on another street where you’re not supposed to. […] New York is very “film-friendly”. In a lot of the places it’s free [to get a permit].”

One of the famous faces in the feature is the multi-talented Jaden Smith. I was curious as to how he and Crystal met. “He hit up Rachelle on Instagram and was a fan of hers and her skateboarding. They then became friends and this became this thing of “who should be in this film?”Jaden acts so he became a part of the family and would hang out. […] If you put yourself out there, it’s really easy to hook into the whole community. I’ve lived in New York for 20 years, I was part of the youth culture at first and now I’m essentially an anthropologist for it.” 

As someone who has dabbled in the Barcelona skate scene, I’ve made many skater friends along the way. One particular friend of mine, Marc, showed me an article that called skaters “elitist” and “exclusive” yet he believes that skate culture is very inclusive: you skate, you’re in. Yet, Crystal argues that getting “in” with specific groups of skaters can be challenging but if you just do your own thing in your local skate park, you are bound to make friends.

According to Crystal, skaters give Jaden Smith a hard time. “They can’t accept that he’s a good skater. He can f****n’ skate but he still gets s***.  But he doesn’t give a f***; he still goes out there to all those parks, shreds, talks to everybody and puts himself on the same level as everybody else. So, it’s hard to break into [the skate community] but then it gets to the point where, eventually, you do get in.”

The Skate Kitchen girls, however, have also been targeted online; “This film has been getting a lot of backlash from boys online and I’m telling them “guys, this is the whole reason why we made the movie… older skaters and magazine owners are really set in their ways and don’t want to give any of these girls a pass.”

I feel Skate Kitchen represents the real, feel-good aspect of skating with friends. This feeling, however, led to the film feeling slow at points. This allowed scenes to play out in a realistic fashion.

I told Crystal how the film made me feel like I was there, to which she replied, “That’s what I aim to do. Too much plot makes me uncomfortable. Sometimes I’m like “that feels fake, that’s bulls***”. Upon hearing this, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri popped into my mind, a film that, in my opinion, felt scripted and fake. Fortunately, Crystal agrees with me “I f****** hated that movie. The characters… Who the f*** likes that movie? The whole time I was looking around thinking “how is this movie nominated?” This movie sucks, it’s like a fake Cohen Brothers movie… what’s his name who won an Academy Award (Sam Rockwell)? I thought his character felt SO fake.”

“It took me three sittings to finish it – on three different flights! Each time I went back I’d go ‘oh man…'”

A true artiste (and a fellow Three Billboards hater) Crystal Moselle is an original storyteller and a person who appreciates the art of atmospheric cinema. Her film Skate Kitchen will be released in the UK on 28th September.

Review: BoJack Horseman – Season 5

Written by Adrian Kanyoli on . Posted in Film.

In this golden age of television we’re currently enjoying – where critically-acclaimed dramas are accessible all day, in whichever room you fancy, at the click of a button – you’ll find animated series’ are beginning to be overlooked. You’ll rarely hear original or creatively ambitious cartoons like Avatar or Rick and Morty spoken of in the same breath as the likes of The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, or Mad Men. But BoJack Horseman season five reminds us why there’s a place for great animated series’ in the pantheon of high-quality television.

Those of you who only know of this series as that weird Netflix programme with the talking animals or those who haven’t made it past the questionable first season will wonder why the rest of us sing BoJack‘s praises. Over the last four seasons, committed viewers have been rewarded with genuine laughs and a roller-coaster of emotions. It’s the original storytelling, the unexpected deaths, the poignant considerations of mental health, and the flawed, heartbreaking characters that keep us coming back for more.

While Season 5 doesn’t reach the heights of the famed underwater episode “Fish Out of Water” or the crippling lows of Beatrice Horseman’s tragic backstory, it maintains a level of human sincerity and emotional resonance that star-studded live-action dramas often struggle to pull off. Furthermore, it manages to stay fresh. In the episode “INT. SUB”, the entirety of the story is told second-hand with the cast playing humorous caricatures of themselves. This is one such example, but every episode plays well, showing the mark of writers deeply concerned with the exploration of ethics and moral responsibility. Thankfully, however, the series doesn’t doesn’t take itself too seriously, perfectly juxtaposing cartoonish absurdity with this human drama.

Each new character arc is strong. BoJack’s leading role in the crime drama Philbert sparks a story arc that exposes the shortcomings of TV’s popular male anti-heroes like Tony Soprano, Don Draper, and Walter White. The type of characters who, in an effort to undermine toxic masculinity, “end up glamouring its excesses” – as succinctly put by Diane. This cleverly highlights the damaging aspects of this series’ faults, as heard through Diane’s criticism of the eponymous character’s past actions, and it also leads to the advancement of several story threads that have been seasons in the making. Diane and Mr Peanutbutter’s divorce leads to some long overdue individual character development, taking both characters to interesting places. And the decision to continue exploring Todd’s asexuality and Princess Carolyn’s journey to motherhood proves to be the gift that keeps on giving as both characters develop in unforeseen but believable ways.

It’s hard to sell this series without spoiling the narrative decisions that make it so special, but what I can say is this; BoJack Horseman continues to be a comedy-drama that’s so tragically like reality that it needs a veneer of animation and absurdity to allow viewers to watch it without sinking into existential depression. Not every programme with anthropomorphic animals tackles issues as serious as the male gaze, opioid addiction, divorce, feminism and death. Much like reality, conflicts aren’t neatly resolved within a thirty-minute time-bracket, life is more unfair than it is fair, terrible people get away with their sins for all the wrong reasons, and people constantly try to change but often find they can’t escape themselves.

BoJack Horseman pulls you in with its intelligent humour and creative use of visual gags, but it’ll keep you engaged with its constant reminders that we are not alone and that no one’s got life figured out. Not even a major recording artist like Sarah Lynn or a wealthy celebrity living in Hollywoo.

BoJack Horseman Season 5 premiered Friday 14th September 2018 on Netflix. All episodes are available online.

Welcome back to Manchester: autumn 2018’s newest bars and restaurants

Written by Eleanor McLaughlin on . Posted in News.

This summer has seen a whole host of new food and drink delights pop up across Manchester. Here are the best new openings you might have missed over the summer months:

 

Noi Quattro – Northern Quarter 

Noi Quattro is the newest addition to Manchesters impressive line up of Neapolitan-style Pizzarias. Translating to ‘The four of us,’ it is run by four Italians, with the aim of delivering authentic, Neapolitan pizza. The menu features traditional pizzas as well as several vegetarian and vegan options, calzoncello (deep fried calzone), scugnizzielli (bites of fried dough) and cuoppo – a paper cone filled with fried italian delicacies.

 

YES – Charles Street

Four-storey venue YES seems to have everything: dingy basement club, an entirely pink 250-person live music venue, rooftop terrace bar and street-food kitchen. The club will host free nights every Friday and Saturday, along with regular band performances and DJ nights. Former Hatch residence Firebird Hope will be serving fried chicken as well as pizzas by the slice from in-house pizzeria Pepperoni Playboy.

 

Folk & Soul – Northern Quarter

Vegan restaurant, bar and live music venue Folk & Soul opened in May in the site previously housing Odd Bar in the Northern Quarter. They have a small menu of main dishes and tapas-style sharers and a range of wine and beers.

 

Viet Shack – Ancoats

Arndale Market street-food favourite Viet Shack have opened a new restaurant and bar location in Ancoats. With a diverse menu of Vietnamese meat and fish dishes along with vegan and gluten-free options, Viet Shack also serves Vietnamese beers and a range of asian-inspired cocktails.

 

Boho Utopia – Withington  

Not strictly new, Boho Utopia was founded in 2016, but this year the café had a menu revamp with an array of affordable, 100% vegan brunch bites, comfort eats and freakshakes. Mac ‘n cheez, beer-battered garlic shrooms and quesadillas are just some of the things on offer, along with freshly baked cakes. They also host yoga, mindfullness and meditation sessions.

 

Sugo Pasta Kitchen – Ancoats

Altrincham based Italian restaurant Sugo Pasta Kitchen opened a second site in Ancoats this June, offering traditional, authentic Italian pasta dishes.

 

Hatch – Oxford Road

Oxford Road pop-up venue Hatch has a fresh line up of street food vendors:

Food.Me is vegan friendly, local, and healthy wraps, curries, smoothies and juices.

Mama Z offers home-cooked fillipino food catering for meat-lovers and vegans alike.

T’Arricrii are Sicilian street-food vendors specialising in Arancini, offering meat, fish and veggie options.

Woks Cluckin’ serve tasty pan-asian street food.

 

The Jane Eyre – Ancoats

Ancoats new ‘Neighbourhood Bar’ serves an array of cocktails, beers and wines, as well brunch, toasties and small plates.

 

The Shack – West Didsbury  

A new bar in West Didsbury, offering cocktails, tacos, loaded fries and a great brunch, as well as hosting regular live music nights.

Hispi – Didsbury

Part of the chain of restaurants including Chester’s The Sticky Walnut, The Burnt Truffle in the Wirral, and Liverpool’s Wreckfish, the North West brand has opened a new restaurant in Didsbury offering high end British food in a relaxed but contemporary setting.

Photo: Future Bodies

‘Future Bodies’– technology and the organic body

Written by Jacklin Kwan on . Posted in Science & Tech, News.

Even though technology has penetrated every aspect of modern life, most of us have been limited in how we envision the future to look like.

We talk about how social media may change the political landscape, how the rise of interconnectivity can affect our relationships, and how technological advancements may help solve issues like climate change. However, we hardly ever stop to think about how we might change. That is, how our bodies will evolve just as our surroundings do.

Future Bodies is a show two years in development, co-produced by RashDash, HOME, and Unlimited. As it has taken shape, the programme has narrowed down the questions it wants to ask its audience; What is it to be human? How does our physical body define us, and what does it mean to have it changed?

These existential questions excite Jon Spooner, the Artistic Director of Unlimited. The show was born in 2015 when Spooner was commissioned to make an interactive performance installation about human enhancement technologies with RashDash’s Abbi Greenland as the main performer.  Since then, the show has evolved with the involvement of leading scientists and artists based in the UK. In Future Bodies, you’ll see a diverse cast of six, including Manchester actresses Yusra Warsama, Becky Wilkie, and Alison Halstead.

When speaking to Jon Spooner, he says doesn’t consider himself a “science communicator”. Instead, Spooner considers himself an artist, who only rediscovered his love of science when he was an adult and already producing performances. Maybe it’s his enthusiasm for science as a layman that makes him such an effective storyteller.

In the past, Jon Spooner has directed and performed in award-winning productions like Static and Neutrino. He’s also worked with scientists from all over the research spectrum. From astronauts in the European Space Agency, to researchers working in nanotechnology at the University of Manchester. Spooner’s continued collaboration with scientists informs his foray into how science intersects with art. His personality and talent probably does the rest, as he explains: “I’m very funny, and I’m good at storytelling and narrative.”

Photo: Press photo @ Unlimited Theatre

Future Bodies continues Unlimited’s trend in creating shows around scientific themes. The show will follow different people, and their stories around how technology has infiltrated their physical lives. The show will feature both genuinely plausible realities in the near future as well as more wild and absurd possibilities. Not only will Future Bodies explore an imagined future, but it will also ask how we get there, and who will be driving this.

The prospect that our physical selves are inevitably going to be altered by technology is a source of fear for many people (Netflix’s Altered Carbon, anyone?). But while this is probably anxiety-inducing for the majority of us, Jon Spooner is different. After producing Future Bodies, Spooner is also going to be appearing in ‘You have been upgraded’ at the Science and Industry Museum where he’ll be implanted with a microchip in his hand.

At least there are some of us who aren’t afraid after peering into the future.

Future Bodies will be showing at HOME from the 28 September to the 13 October 2018 before it leaves on tour to Newcastle and Huddersfield. 

Photo: Alex Proimos @Wikimedia Commons

Review: Ex Libris: The New York Public Libraries

Written by Aisha Al-Janabi on . Posted in Film.

At three and a half hours, Ex Libris: The New York Public Libraries is probably one of the longest films I’ve committed to watching, and it is honestly worth it.  It’s a well-thought out film, with scenes capturing aspects of the lives that are brought together within the various New York Public Libraries. This film is a wonderful tribute to all libraries and those who work there and highlights the continued importance and relevance of their services.

Ex Libris: The New York Public Library is a film created by Frederick Wiseman and is best described as an observational documentary about the New York Public Libraries. Wiseman has a non-obstructive style of filming so as an audience watching, it’s as if we are present in the library instead of watching through a lens in a different part of the world.

The scenes shown are familiar; rooms full of people listening to music whilst typing away at their laptop, someone dozing off in the corner, another scrolling through an online clothing shop. Seeing the consistency and reliability of what a library provides is comforting and nourishing. An architect featured in the film points out that all libraries must also be unique as the communities surrounding them use the space differently and that the library must adapt to this. Wiseman gives time and space to both the architecture within the libraries and the outside showing the surrounding shops and capturing images of life in New York.

The uniqueness of the use of each library is obvious in the film as some provide a relaxed space where people do talk whilst others contain reading rooms with the all-encompassing silence stereotypical of a library. Wiseman visits a Braille and Talking Books Library, which was something I hadn’t heard of previously and within this space we are shown a session where braille is being taught. This is an aspect of diversity that can be forgotten, and it shows the valuable work carried out through the library system by giving opportunities and raises awareness of these. Wiseman also shows us a talk given by a sign language interpreter, and in sharing these scenes gives an appreciation to those involved in these communities. Education at all ages is provided through various library learning programmes that we see during the film and in doing so shares the heartening scenes that occur within these public spaces.

The only group that we repeatedly visit are those who surround a table with coffee cups and notebooks at the ready, discussing where the funding for these libraries should go and organising various branches of the New York libraries to make it a cohesive and functioning system. Through these repeated meetings, I appreciated the wide variety of men’s ties, and the discussions that normally occur behind closed doors.

The focus of the meetings we see is about making broadband and digital technology more available to those who don’t currently have access.  There is no conclusion or culmination of these meetings as this is just a snapshot of them, but we see the distribution of internet hotspot devices in a local library on loan much like a book which I hope was successful.

Ex Libris: The New York Public Libraries is a wholesome film, where we are given the privilege to observe what is happening at the instant of filming. Through doing so the audience can learn a lot about New York and those that live there.

Watch it without your phone, in a darkened room (ideally a cinema) and embrace the journey that Wiseman takes us on, and the people we meet. I came away and had to discuss all the little details of the film, exchanging favourite scenes and singing praise for libraries all around. This will be a film cherished for centuries to come, and I’m thrilled that Wiseman chose to give time to libraries and let them have a moment of stardom.

 

5/5

Photo: Olivier06400 @Wikimedia Commons

Review: Climax

Written by alfieclark on . Posted in Film.

A true story of a 90s dance troupe having a post-rehearsal party allegedly inspires Gaspar Noé’s Climax. The party gradually descends into twisted, nightmarish hysteria as a result of LSD-spiked sangria. The film opens with a series of interviews with the dancers, speaking about their passions, ambitions, and fears. This moment foreshadows much of the horror to come. We are then treated to a visually stimulating and incredibly well-choreographed dance sequence, followed by a series of snippets from conversations between several characters. This all serves as an effective calm-before-the-storm for the film, with the dance sequence in particular being a stand-out moment in the film that had me hooked within the first ten minutes.

However, I did find one conversation, where two male dancers discuss their intentions to have sex with one of the female dancers, went on for far too long. Whilst it began as effective characterisation, it eventually came across as though Noé was simply trying to fit as much crude dialogue as he could in a single scene, ultimately creating the only moment in the film where I felt the pace dropped.

Other than the aforementioned scene, the pace in this film was its strongest factor. As Noé masterfully makes use of tracking shots to keep the audience constantly involved in the insanity unravelling on screen, the use of sound extenuates this insanity. In quieter scenes of characters trying to discuss solutions to their predicament, background noises of terrified screaming and maniacal laughter are clearly audible. Additionally, what transpires on screen is timed perfectly with the music playing – the use of ‘Windowlicker’ by Aphex Twin serves as a personal high-point of the film for me. The soundtrack is an auditory treat, featuring the likes of Daft Punk, The Rolling Stones, and Gary Numan.

The performances in the film are strong, with Sofia Boutella as Selva, the closest thing to a protagonist in the story, being particularly impressive. She perfectly conveys the sheer terror she is experiencing despite the fact that the audience cannot actually see whatever disturbing hallucinations she may be witnessing. Child-actor Vince Galliot Cumant deserves praise as Tito: having a likable child mixed up in the horror gave the film an entirely new dimension of suspense. Whilst I personally did not find this film to be as disturbing as some of Noé’s other works, the inclusion of this character was certainly the most distressing part of the film. Cumant’s convincing performance largely helped the disturbing moments.

Climax is far from an easy watch, and I would not recommend it to everyone. However, if you have a strong stomach and are a fan of horror there is a lot to love here. Whilst never quite reaching the heights of his ambitious 2009 psychedelic masterpiece Enter the Void, Climax may be Noé’s most tightly constructed film yet. It is also perhaps my favourite film of the year so far. But maybe that says more about me than the film.

Climax was released in the UK on the 21st September and is currently playing at HOME in Manchester.

5/5.